IndyCar’s Trading Cards Are a Hit

IndyCar lagged behind in the trading card space. As F1 cards took off with Topps while NASCAR went with Panini, IndyCar had nothing in the trading card space until spring of 2024, save for a limited run of trading cards focused on drivers from the Indianapolis 500’s history. IndyCar soon announced a deal for a trading card set involving autographed cards, foil base card parallels, relics and other limited-numbered cards. The cards would be made by… Parkside Collectibles?

Admittedly, this was a brand that did not seem mainstream. After looking at their website, their main products are focused around women’s soccer. After wondering whether Topps or another brand would have been a better partner, I decided to give the cards a chance by purchasing a couple of hanger boxes from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway museum.

After opening one pack, the truth of the matter is that the cards are well done. The base set has each driver and car from the 2023 NTT IndyCar Series campaign and every driver from the 2023 Indianapolis 500 as well. After purchasing a hanger box, I decided to go bigger and get a hobby box.

Hobby boxes are more expensive, but they have two guaranteed autographed cards in each box. Hanger boxes are much less likely to have an autographed card in them, but can still have numbered parallel cards in them. Opening the hobby packs was a bit of a challenge, but the experience was a good one.